RADFORD – There's a first time for everything, so it's fitting that a pair of firsts came in the season opener for the Radford women's soccer team.
The Highlanders got goals from senior
Amanda Heins (Sterling, Va./Dominion) and junior
Jourdan McDaniel (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring), the first of their careers, and held off Howard in the second half for a 2-1 season-opening win at Cupp Stadium on Friday night.
After scattered opportunities in the first half, it was a chance with time winding down on the clock that Radford and Heins cashed in on. Freshman
Casey Burdette (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) served a high corner kick from the far side of the field, and Heins cleanly headed the ball to the twine to give the Highlanders (1-0-0) the advantage.
“It was great to score the goal that gave us a lift,” Heins said. “That was a big goal to end the half, and it brought us all together for the rest of the game.”
McDaniel came off the bench in the second half and delivered her first career goal on a chance in the 58th minute where she took a pass from junior
Latrice Lee (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park), found space, and drilled a low shot to give Radford the 2-0 lead.
“I came off the bench really wanting to step up tonight,” McDaniel said. “I knew if we scored early [in the half], it would really set the momentum for the rest of the way.”
“They made the most of their opportunities tonight, no question,” head coach
Ben Sohrabi said. “It was great to see Amanda step up as a senior and score, and she really gave us a lot of life going into that second half. Jourdan stepped in and played well, and has really set herself apart heading into this season.”
The Bison (0-2-0) cut Radford's lead in half in the 63rd minute on Cynthia Snyder's individual effort. Snyder took a ball on the far side of the box, dribbled past a Radford defender and past a challenging sophomore goalkeeper
Lisa Lubke (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales), before sending a soft shot inside the opposite post for the marker.
While the Bison fell short, Sohrabi said the defending Big South champions got all they could handle from a team the Highlanders beat 4-0 in their 2008 season opener.
“I think Howard played extremely well,” said Sohrabi. “I give them a lot of credit, and they were very effective from a tactical standpoint.”
The first half included a pair of scoring chances for both teams. In the 17th minute, Howard's Jordan Brown was forced to the near side goalline on a breakaway opportunity, and Heins came from 10 yards away to force a tight, bad-angle shot attempt.
Three minutes later, Cheyra Bell was taken down on the far side of box for a penalty kick and another chance to give the Bison the early lead, but her attempt rang the far post.
The Highlanders their share of chances leading up to the late tally. A rip in tight from Lee in the 32nd was blocked at the last second by a Howard defender. Four minutes later, junior
SharDavia Bell's (Manassas, Va./Gar-Field) look from 15 yards out to the near post was turned aside by Howard keeper Chanel Bell, one of her 10 saves on the night.
“We had a lot of chances and we just have to finish better,” Sohrabi said. “If we finished better, than we would have felt better about the result.”
Radford continues a five-game homestand on Sunday afternoon, hosting Tennessee Tech at 1 p.m.
BOX SCORE
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------
Howard.............. 0 1 - 1
Radford............. 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 43:49 RAD HEINS, Amanda (1) (BURDETTE, Casey)
2. 57:28 RAD McDANIEL, Jourdan (1) (LEE, Latrice)
3. 62:14 HOWW SNYDER,Cynthia (1) (unassisted)
Shots: Howard 9, Radford 23
Saves: Howard 10 (BELL,Chanel 10), Radford 3 (LUBKE, Lisa 3)
